Alex Scott says it’s time to level the playing field for female gameshow hosts after making her debut yesterday, adding: “We need more.”
The former Arsenal and England footballer is cutting her teeth on new BBC daytime quiz The Tournament.
While the Beeb says it is aiming for an even number of male and female hosts, the Mirror reported earlier this year how not a single ITV gameshow at the time was fronted by a woman.
Speaking to the Mirror, Alex said: “We’ve all grown up knowing that quiz shows are male, with a certain look or a certain sound.
“So, all I can hope for now is people see me on the Tournament... they believe that there’s the space for them.”
She said she was delighted with the BBC’s pledge for parity.
She says: “It’s starting to change, let’s keep changing that narrative.”
Gary Lineker has just been unveiled as the host of the channel’s Sitting on a Fortune. In January, ITV aired 20 gameshows or quizzes all of which were presented by men, including The Chase with Bradley Walsh, Tipping Point with Ben Shephard and Lingo with Adil Ray.
The most high-profile female presenter was Anne Robinson, who presented The Weakest Link on the BBC from 2000 to 2012.
Michael Kelpie, managing director of Potato – which makes The Chase – was previously asked about the lack of women hosts in a Bafta talk.
Presenter Charlene White asked him: “Women like game shows too and there’s not many women.”
He replied: “We have been trying to find a combination of a female host and the right format for two years, and we are going to keep going until we get it.”
In-demand Alex fronted BBC’s Olympic coverage with Clare Balding.
She said: “I think what everyone saw was a genuine connection, us having fun, and bouncing off each other.”
*The Tournament, BBC1, 2.15pm
